Our pets love summer just as much as we do! It’s the best time of year to be out and about and enjoying all that the season has to offer, from picnics to hikes, swimming, running, or just enjoying a nap in the backyard with your best canine friend.

Warm weather can be dangerous for our pets. It’s hard for pets to keep cool when the sun is beating down, and that’s because animals don’t sweat like people do. You probably knew that dogs cool themselves through panting, but did you know that they sweat through their paws too? When there is only hot air for a dog to breathe, it’s a lot harder for that dog to keep cool. And while cats tend tolerate the heat a little better than dogs, and even prefer it (we’ve all seen a cat stretched out on a sunny windowsill), that doesn’t mean that you should forget about your cat this summer! Read on to learn some important summer safety tips for dogs and cats:

1. Never, ever, EVER leave your pet in a hot car. It can take minutes – yes, MINUTES – for a pet to develop heat stroke and suffocate in a car. Most people don’t realize how hot it gets in parked cars. On a 78 degree day, for instance, temperatures in a car can reach 90 degrees in the shade and top 160 degrees if parked directly in the sun! Your best bet is to leave your pet home on warm days. If you’re driving around with your dog or cat in the car, bring water and a water dish and take your pet with you when you leave the car. Click here to continue reading the whole article...and don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions for your pet's Vet at Michigan Road Animal Hospital 96th Street, 317-228-0645!